Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News October 2016

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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News
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Seal of ARMM

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

ARMM’s poor receives free PhilHealth cards

(Bureau of Public Information)

COTABATO CITY – Free Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) cards were distributed simultaneously to 1,173,435 poor and indigent beneficiaries in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and in other parts of Mindanao.

On Saturday, October 29, President Rodrigo Duterte who visited ARMM’s regional center here led the ceremonial turnover of the PhilHealth cards to selected beneficiaries.

In 2016, the national government allocated P2.8 billion for PhilHeath cards in the ARMM alone. Other PhilHealth card recipients come from conflict-affected areas in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Central Mindanao, which are also part of the President’s Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda (CRDA).

The distribution is under PhilHealth’s National Health Insurance Program, which was established to provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available and accessible health care services to all citizens of the Philippines.

The free PhilHealth cards, agency officials explained, covers the health insurance of the recipients for a year. The cards, they noted, are renewable.

Recipients who are identified poor families, or whose income is insufficient for family subsistence, have been identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction .

The PhilHealth card serves as a passport in receiving medical benefits. This socialized insurance program serves as means for the healthy to help pay for the care of the sick and for those who can afford medical care to subsidize those who cannot.

It also includes a sustainable system of funds constitution, collection, management and disbursement of financing the availing of a basic minimum package and other supplementary packages of health insurance benefits by a progressively expanding proportion of the population.

It is limited to paying for the utilization of health services by covered beneficiaries and prohibited from providing health care directly, from buying and dispensing drugs and pharmaceuticals, from employing physicians and other professionals for the purpose of directly rendering care, and from owning or investing in health care facilities.

The following also enjoy PhilHealth coverage without additional premiums:

• Legitimate spouse who is not a member;
• Child or children – legitimate, legitimated, acknowledged and illegitimate (as appearing in birth certificate) adopted or stepchild or stepchildren below 21 years of age, unmarried and unemployed;
• Children who are 21 years old or above but suffering from congenital disability, either physical or mental or any disability acquired that renders them totally dependent on the member for support, as determined by the Corporation;
• Foster child as defined in Republic Act 10165 otherwise known as the Foster Care Act of 2012;
• Parents who are 60 years old or above, not otherwise an enrolled member, whose monthly income is below an amount to be determined by PhilHealth in accordance with the guiding principles set forth in the NHI Act of 2013; and,
• Parents with a permanent disability regardless of age as determined by PhilHealth, that renders them totally dependent on the member for subsistence.

Qualified dependents must be declared by the principal member. Their names must be listed under the principal member’s Member Data Record to ensure hassle-free availment of benefits.

Gov’t allots P414M vs hunger, malnutrition in Mindanao

By Mark Merueñas (MM/BM, GMA News)

The government will be pouring P414 million into strife-torn areas in Mindanao to address hunger and malnutrition in southern Philippines.

In a speech at the launch of the "Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda" for conflict-riddled parts of Mindanao, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said the central office of her department had already pledged P200 million for the inter-agency initiative called, Bangsa Moro Umpungan sa Nutrisyun or Bangun.

Of that amount, P46 million would be used for the remaining months of the year, while P154 million would be for next year.

The regional office of the Department of Interior and Local Government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, meanwhile, has also pledged P214 million for the project.

Taguiwalo said President Rodrigo Duterte "as early as July called our attention to the hunger and malnutrition problem in the ARMM and how our Department should do something about it."

"The President has a built in radar for detecting people’s needs and he is especially concerned with the situation of the children. And for the children of ARMM! He wants to ensure that the children are fed adequately so that they can develop fully and grow into productive adults," she said.

"But the pervasive poverty in ARMM is the main obstacle in Pres Digong’s and our dream of well-nourished and healthy children," Taguiwalo added.

Apart from the DSWD and the DILG, other participating agencies are the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Agriculture, in close coordination and planning with ARMM officials and agencies.

Taguiwalo said the government project aims to:

1) engage the active participation of the children, parents, communities and concerned LGUs in the entire process of project implementation;

2) harmonize the technical assistance and services of different government agencies in addressing hunger and malnutrition among children 0-12 years old in ARMM;

3) ensure access of children to culturally-appropriate food available in the local communities; and

4) increase the weight of underweight and severely underweight children after 180 days of nutrition support.

She said the project currently targets all the identified children aged 0-12 years old who are underweight in the pilot provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, and Lanao del Sur.

These children are from the municipalities of Datu Salibo, Datu Piang, Mamasapano, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Jolo, Patikul and Butig, which were chosen primarily on the rate of malnutrition in the area, said Taguiwalo.

The inter-agency team plans to conduct parent education, baby food production, community-based nutrition support activities, referral of malnourished children to appropriate institutions, membership in sustainable livelihood programs, and referral for communities access to safe and potable drinking water.

AFP inaugurates renovated Sulu military hospital

By Nonoy E. Lacson

Zamboanga City — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya led the inauguration Wednesday of the newly-renovated 65-bed capacity Camp General Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital (CGTBH) in Jolo, Sulu.

Office of the President Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista, a former AFP Chief of Staff and son of General Teodulfo Bautista on whose honor the camp was named after, was the guest of honor.

He was joined by the local government executives of Sulu, other military top brass from General Headquarters, field commanders in Western Mindanao, and representatives of San Miguel Foundation, Incorporated, led by Peter Suchianco.

The renovation of CGTBH came on the heels of President Duterte’s promise to build medical facilities that would cater to soldiers wounded in battle.

Brig Gen Mariano A. Mejia, the Surgeon General of the AFP and concurrent Commanding General of the AFP Medical Center, hailed the renovation of the medical facility.

“The fulfillment of this once dream of having a hospital in Sulu did not come easy. It faced financial challenges, among others. This is why we are grateful to the AFP leadership, to the Commander in Chief, and to San Miguel Foundation, Incorporated for their gracious donation of ambulances, equipment, and other hospital implements,” said Mejia.

The CGTBSH started as a Trauma Center in 2007. It provided immediate management of combat casualties among AFP uniformed personnel engaged in combat operations in Sulu. With its metamorphosis into a hospital, it can now accommodate injured or sick military personnel, their dependents and even civilians in the province.

Mejia said the CGTBH can cater immediate resuscitative care and advance trauma management, in-patient and out-patient services, ancillary services such as pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, and primary psycho-social and mental health, post-surgical and medical hospitalization and treatment, and also dental health care services.

“As the Chief of Staff, I exhort field commanders to care for and show their concern for the men—our most valuable asset. This is the moving force that rallied us to this endeavor where even government and non-government corporations weighed in.” Visaya said.

“Camp Teodulfo Station Hospital is a testimony to the enduring partnership between the military, local government, and public and private corporations. That we can put together and contribute to the common good. Not only for the protectors, your soldiers, but also the ones they are protecting, the people.” Visaya added.

TESDA offers skills training to OSYs and drug surrenders in ARMM

By Noel Y. Punzalan [(PNA), LAP/NYP/]

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 28 (PNA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is giving priority to the out-of-school youth and drug surrenders for their various vocational and technical skills programs, including those from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“We would see to it that the out-of-school youth and drug surrenders could avail of the program. We will not leave them hanging,” TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong said in a huddle with a group of newsmen here Friday.

Mamondiong said the agency would continue to implement its current programs, which has integrated the anti-poverty agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte to its practical skills courses.

To further pursue an active participation of communities in TESDA’s programs, Mamondiong said letters have been sent to all 42,000 barangays in the country asking local officials to provide them a list of recommended scholars and the kind of skills training they need.

The agency’s 14-point Reform and Development Agenda for the next six years include the Barangay-based Scholarship Program; On-line Scholarship Application; Technical Audit of TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) Schools and Programs; Skills Training for Drug Dependents; and the Skills Training for Entrepreneurs and Family Enterprises.

Also in the agenda are the Skills Training for Inmates and their Families; Inclusive Program for Women; Continuing Program for TESDA’s Alumni; Global Access to/on-line database of TVET Graduates and Certified Workers; Linkages with Agro-Industry; Linkages with State Universities and Colleges and Local Universities and Colleges; Linkages with Foreign Skills Training Institutions; Transparency; and Moral Renewal.

“We are confident that these programs will help empower our people to become more productive members of society,” Mamondiong said.

The agency’s programs are free of charge to out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, as well as employed and unemployed residents of the region.

The TESDA chief’s pronouncement came in the heels of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s scheduled visit to the ARMM compound in this city on October 28 for the launching of the region’s Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda (CRDA).

The CRDA intends to uplift the lives of residents in the region and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

Its beneficiaries include the towns of Jolo (Sulu), Bongao (Tawi-Tawi), and Marawi City (Lanao del Sur), as well as the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.

Aside from ARMM areas, other beneficiaries of the initiative are Region 9 – Zamboanga City, Ipil (Zamboanga Sibugay), and Pagadian (Zamboanga del Sur).

Also included are Region 10 – Tubod (Lanao del Norte) and Lanao del Norte province; and, Region 12 – Isulan (Sultan Kudarat) and the cities Kidapawan (North Cotabato), Koronadal (South Cotabato) and General Santos City.

Among the programs, projects, and services covered by CRDA are scholarships from TESDA and from the Commission on Higher Education.

Other anti-poverty initiatives lined up for launching are water projects from the Department of the Interior and Local Government; agricultural machinery, equipment and seedling from the Department of Agriculture; banca, fishing gear and gill nets from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Supplemental feeding from the Department of Social Welfare and Development; opportunities under the Special Programs and Employment of Students beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment; and distribution of PhilHealth cards would also be highlighted.

Mamondiong said he has been tasked by the President to coordinate with other agencies in resolving poverty and hunger in Mindanao with TESDA being one of 12 government agencies in the forefront of combatting poverty.

The Chief Executive has earlier directed various government agencies to submit measures on how to ease hunger and poverty in Mindanao.

DTI-ARMM to push for upgrading of rubber industry in Basilan

Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry in the Muslim autonomous region will push for the development of the rubber industry in Basilan.

During the rubber industry investment forum recently held in Lamitan City, Atty. Anwar Malang, DTI-ARMM regional secretary said that DTI is gathering data and profile of the rubber industry here in order to find measures to further develop the industry.

“In fact, Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman has committed to allocate some P150-million for rubber processing here. If that will happen, there will be value-added measures for our rubber industry,” he said.

DTI is also soliciting some issues and concerns in order to plot measures that would address them.

“The current issue is the low price [of rubber]. But maybe we can process it and trade them outside with the ASEAN trade agreement in place plus the EcoZones, where they can be channeled,” he said.

When this happens, DTI is optimistic that the people of Basilan will prosper, the business will be better and the planters and small farmers could earn more, too.

Malang said that the regional government is also addressing the problem of cocolisap that is destroying the billion-peso coconut industry and has already sought the assistance of the Department of Agriculture to address the matter.

The trade chief explained that DTI’s mission is to make the economy of the ARMM competitive and inclusive.

“The good thing in Basilan is that the poverty incidence has gone down based on PSA data, and this could still be lowered,” he said.

DTI said that it will set up two Negosyo Centers, one in the province and one in Lamitan City that will help businessmen set up investments and to guide would-be business prospects.

“The main challenge is with the private sector. The government is doing everything in terms of public expenditures, especially in ARMM. Almost all of the roads here are concreted with the circumferential road in place. We are encouraging local investors. We encourage small businesses to merge and converge to become bigger,” he said.

However, the government is yet to fully address the issue of security, which has stopped businesses to thrive.

Malang was guest speaker at the investment forum held at Datu Dizal Cultural Center in Lamitan City where some 104 rubber farmers, agrarian reform cooperatives, traders, local government units, and select government agencies participated.

DTI-Basilan OIC provincial director said that the forum was initiated in partnership with the city government of Lamitan to provide stakeholders with better outlook and prospects of the rubber industry in Basilan.

ARMM welcomes entry of investments on energy, electrification

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- The Regional Board of Investments of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM) on Tuesday approved the application of KALTIMEX Rural Energy Corporation (KREC) to register its energy project with RBOI to avail of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives being provided by the government.

In a joint meeting of the ARMM Board of Governors’ and Management Committee, RBOI approved the application of Kaltimex, a 99.99 percent Filipino and .01 percent Indian company, which is setting up an 8-megawatt (MW) capacity diesel power plant in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi worth Php831 million, generating 34 jobs.

The company promises to provide a 24/7 round the clock power supply through the Tawi-Tawi Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TAWELCO) to service the development requirements of the Province of Tawi-Tawi.

Kaltimex, specializing on providing power to off-grid areas will also be expanding its operations in Basilan and Sulu.

Lawyer Ishak V. Mastura, Chairman and Managing Head of RBOI, said that the registration of Kaltimex is very timely since at present, about 70 percent of households in the ARMM has scarce access to electricity.

ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

He said the region is in dire need of power especially in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA) where residents miserably experience daily frequent rotational brownouts due to power shortage.

This project, Mastura said, could help address the power crisis in the region.

“On the positive side, power is a huge investment opportunity for those in the power business. The region is the least penetrated market for energy related projects in the Philippines. The Kaltimex project in Tawi-Tawi could encourage more investors to come and invest in ARMM not only on energy but could open-up to agri-fishery, processing and manufacturing projects as well,” Mastura explained.

When asked about the power plant investment of Kaltimex, ARMM Regional Governor, Mujiv Hataman said that it was only this month that President Duterte visited the region in particular Lamitan, Basilan wherein he heard about the perennial problem of the ARMM island provinces on the lack or shortage of electricity.

Hataman said the Kaltimex investment in Tawi-Tawi is a response to this development challenge and he hopes that the national government will continuously promote investments in ARMM in the energy sector and in livelihood generating industries.

“The Kaltimex investment to offer a stable power supply is a milestone in the Duterte Administration since this could support a growing economy towards a dynamic trade, tourism, investments, development of infrastructures and increase household incomes,” Hataman said.

This year, RBOI has registered a total of Php2.1 billion worth of investment projects.

ARMM bats for Guinness longest line of donated pencils

(PNA), FPV/NYP

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 25 (PNA) -- “Share to 1 - Million Lapis!”

Such is the slogan set by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as it vies for the Guinness Book of World Records longest line of donated pencils for underprivileged students of fourth and sixth class municipalities in the region.

The initiative is jointly being undertaken by the ARMM’s Office of the Regional Governor and the Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team, aptly called ARMM- HEART, an emergency rapid response team that provides coordinated actions by all regional line agencies to limit the impact of disasters in the region.

In a social media account, Myrna Jocelyn Henry, ARMM – HEART spokesperson, said both the ORG and ARMM HEART are aiming to give at least one million pens to set the world record with the help of donors, including business groups, people’s organizations, and individuals, across the region.

She said ARMM – HEART is accepting donations until October 28 this year at their main headquarters situated inside Shariff Kabunsuan Complex, the provisional set of the autonomous region situated in this city.

UN Women amplifies Bangsamoro women’s voice

(PBChangco/PIA)

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 24 (PIA)—Some 60 Bangsamoro women leaders representing various areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim in Mindanao (ARMM) will converge in Cotabato City on October 28 for the presentation of women’s agenda.

Under the auspices of UN Women, the women-participants have undergone various activities strengthening their leadership capacities and generated the formulation of agenda and actions along the areas of popularizing the Bangsamoro history, empowerment, gender and development and ending violence against women.

In support of the peace process, in 2015 UN Women conducted a mapping of women leaders and civil society organizations (CSOs) in ARMM’s five provinces, 39 barangays in North Cotabato and six towns of Lanao del Norte that yielded a snapshot of their perspectives and existing trainings along the areas of gender, peace and governance.

Mapping of women leaders and women’s groups, capacity development and support to advocacy activities are key activities of UN Women as its contribution in ensuring women’s leadership and participation in the Bangsamoro.

According to the UN Women report, the results of the mapping were utilized to develop trainings that would enable greater participation for gender equality in their various contexts as Moros and indigenous women, understanding of the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination, quest for just and lasting peace as well as the crafting and advocating area-based women’s agenda.

Showcasing its work on mainstreaming of women, peace and security in the Philippines, UN Women is launching several publications among them the Training Kit on Women, Peace and Security Mainstreaming drafted and produced in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) that aims to enhance capacities of national and local governments in appreciating gender issues in the context of conflict and likewise formulate, implement and monitor programs, projects and services. The other publications include Mapping Report of Select Women Leaders and Civil Society Organizations in the Bangsamoro, Training Kit on Strengthening Women’s Leadership and Participation in the Bangsamoro which is a compilation of modules and sessions on series of trainings, and the Bangsamoro Leadership Journeys which provides a glimpse of the realities that Bangsamoro women face in their day-to-day lives and became the bases for crafting their respective agenda points and action plans.

Adviser for Governance, Peace and Security of UN Women Regional Office Asia and the Pacific Hanny Cueva Beteta will share the organization’s work on women, peace and security in the Philippines during the October 28 event.

A former Peace Manager of the women, peace and security section in UN Women Headquarters, Beteta has over 10 years of research experience working on poverty and development issues and one of the main technical leading experts on the interagency work for development of indicators on women, peace and security to use at the global levels as requested by Security Council Resolution 1889.

Through this initiative, UN Women expects strong commitment and support from the ARMM Regional Government, international development organizations and CSOs in partnering in the pursuit of women meaningful participation in the Bangsamoro.

DAR-ARMM pushes for natural farming system

(PNA), PGL/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- The agrarian reform department in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is pushing for natural farming system in an effort to encourage the agriculture sector to venture into chemical-free agri products, officials said today.

To capacitate rice farmers, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-ARMM) and the provincial agrarian reform office held a two-day Natural Farming System Training in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao Friday.

The training provided agrarian reform beneficiaries in the province an opportunity to develop their own farming plans.

Before the training proper started, the rationale and objectives of the activity was explained by Rebecca R. Bautista of the DAR-ARMM regional office.

Noemi P. Barretto also of DAR-ARMM, training leader, explained that natural farming system, specifically the ‘EMExtended’ and “Bokashi,” harness natural fertilization to achieve cost-efficient and environment-friendly crop production.

EM stands for Effective Microorganisms as coined and created by Dr. Terou Higa of Japan, Barreto said. On the other hand, "Bokashi" is a Japanese word which means “fermented organic matter,” she added.

Under the EM Extended system, a one-liter bottle of fertilizer contains molasses and three major types of microorganisms such as photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and yeasts.

Bokashi composting involves an anaerobic process that relies on inoculated bran to ferment organic material in a tightly closed container.

DepEd-ARMM, partner NGO to start feeding program for school children

By Noel Y. Punzalan [(PNA), FPV/NYP]

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- A government-private sector partnership will benefit more than 10,000 school children in five towns in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), officials said.

This after Dr. John Magno, Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM) regional director and Jose Luis Oquiñena, Gawad Kalinga executive director, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of 120 feeding program for school children in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; in Jolo, Sulu; in Taraka, Lanao del Sur; in Upi and Parang towns, which are both in Maguindanao, and in Lamitan City, the capital of Basilan.

Magno said the project will focus on the setting up of central kitchens in six selected schools where children are to be rationed with nutritious meals during school days.

Gawad Kalinga is involved in many humanitarian projects in impoverished areas in the ARMM and other provinces in neighboring administrative regions.

"About 10,000 school children in the region's poor communities stand to benefit in this joint project which will start next week," Magno said.

The Gawad Kalinga and DepEd-ARMM had earlier tested the viability of the project in a thesis implementation scheme involving 2,500 school children in 11 schools in Parang town in Maguindanao from February to March 2016.

ARMM celebrates 1st Archives Day; nears attainment of ISO certification

By Edwin O. Fernandez [(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF]

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 21 (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Friday celebrated the First Archives Day with the ceremonial turnover of commemorative stamps from the Philippine Postal Corporation to the Office of the Regional Governor, officials said.

The turnover rites were held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex inside the ARMM compound here.

ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said the issuance of stamps was in recognition of the Office of the Regional Governor’s (ORG) ISO 9001 certification following a successful two-phase external audit conducted by TUV Rheinland Philippines, Inc.

“This is one achievement that this administration is very proud of," Hataman said.

"This is the very first time that the Office of the Regional Governor attempted and passed the certification for ISO 9001:2008. We are very appreciative that the Philippine Postal Corp.’s Stamp Committee approved the grant of the special stamps,” Hataman said.

“This milestone is our legacy to the Bangsamoro people and the commemorative stamps are our small contribution as collectible pieces of history. Hence we want to share the event with historians, archivists, librarians, and records officers all over ARMM,” Hataman added.

As part of its mission, the PhilPost recognizes historical milestones and achievements of organizations and institutions through the issuance of commemorative and special stamps.

Once granted, only a limited number of these stamps are printed and distributed to more than 192-member countries of the Universal Postal Union.

“The ISO 9001 certified core processes are two of the main services of ORG and we want to ensure our clients that we don’t only provide quality services but also that these services undergo a quality standard procedure,” said Norkhalila Mae Mambuay-Campong, Regional Cabinet Secretary and the Quality Management Representative.

ORG-ARMM, which has ministerial control over some 40 line agencies and support offices, is now one of the few local government units in the country eligible for the ISO certification.

For the first time, ARMM also passed the national government’s Good Governance Conditions reflecting a revitalized and reformed autonomous region.

A Document Management System orientation and forum on Bangsamoro Archives and History was held later in the day.

The International Archives Day is celebrated annually on June 9 but in the Philippines, pursuant to Proclamation 660 Series of 1995, the National Archives Day is observed on October 21.

The proclamation was aimed at focusing public attention on the role and importance of archives in national development efforts.

6 ARMM LGUs recipient of 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance

(PNA), JMC/NYP

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- Six local government units (LGUs) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) were recipients of the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance.

Noor Hafizullah Abdullah, ARMM interior secretary, said the awardees include the province of Maguindanao, the city of Lamitan in Basilan, and the towns of North Upi and Parang in Maguindanao, Wao in Lanao del Sur, and Jolo in Sulu.

Abdullah said LGUs citations were in recognition of their good performance.

"Last year, we have zero passers; this year we have six," Abdullah said of the achievement.

The sterling accomplishment came after Abdullah made a bold statement last month to other regions in Mindanao that ARMM will compete hard for the award in the years to come.

Abdullah said the ARMM’s Department Interior and Local Government has been consistent in assisting LGUs that seek to pass good governance tests, such as the Seal of Good Local Governance and the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping.

“Passing these tests mean better services to ARMM constituents and compliant with government requirements,” he said.

To become a recipient of Seal of Good Local Governance, an LGU needs to pass certain requirements namely improvements on performance, accountability, transparency, and participation.

The requirements encompass three core assessment areas: Good Financial Housekeeping, Social Protection and Disaster Preparedness, and at least one from the essential assessment areas namely Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Peace and Order, or Environmental Management.

The LGUs that meet the minimum criteria will not only be conferred with the Seal of Good Local Governance but will also be entitled to a package of incentives, such as the Performance Challenge Fund and access to other national performance-based programs.

In 2014, seven ARMM towns, namely Datu Odin Sinsuat, Parang, Sultan Mastura and Upi in Maguindanao; Ganassi and Wao in Lanao del Sur; and Siasi in Sulu, received the Seal of Good Local Governance award for their exemplary performance.

Also this year, 46 towns in the region passed the 2016 Good Financial Housekeeping compared to only 17 ARMM towns in 2015 that received such recognition.

The DILG central office launched the Seal of Good Housekeeping in 2012 to boost the government’s reform initiatives in the regions.

ARMM to revive local health boards across region

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) wil reinvigorate local health boards across the region with 19 local government executives and nine local health officials completing two-year, three-module program under the Health Leadership and Governance Program, officials said Tuesday.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr, speaking during the "Tapatan sa ARMM," a weekly news conference program, said the local executive and health officials received program certificates of completion during graduation rites at Heritage Hotel in Pasay City last week.

He explained that the program, dubbed “ARMM Colloquium: Moro Leaders in ARMM as Champions thru Health Leadership,” was primarily aimed at training local chief executives and health officers in every local government unit to become responsive leaders capable of addressing the health needs of their constituents.

“We are grateful to the Zuellig Family Foundation for giving us a chance to prove our worth and develop our homegrown champions,” Sinolinding Jr., ARMM health secretary, told "Tapatan" participants.

The foundation was established in the Philippines in 1997 by the Zuellig family, which is engaged in pharmaceutical business as well as other ventures.

The program "graduates" have expressed willingness and commitment to reinvigorate the function of local health boards in the provinces of Maguidnanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, according to Dyan Sangkula Jumaide, ARMM’s Health department assistant secretary.

According to Sinolinding, some of the local leaders who benefited the program have shared their acts of leadership in health for their constituents.

Mayor Rahiema Salih of Tandubas town in Tawi-Tawi, said as town mayor she can attend to the health needs of her constituents.

"Mayor ako, may resources ako (I am the mayor, I have the resources),” she said. "But I realized that I need to coordinate and cooperate with local health leaders, especially the health front liners," Mayor Salih said.

Representing ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman, Dr. Sinolinding said: "ARMM used to be the example to show what not to do in government. Today, the ARMM is referred to as a model for empowered and decentralized governance."

Sinolinding added that improved delivery of health services has always been a priority in the region.

"In recent years, the ARMM has installed rural health units in 105 of the 116 municipalities and two cities in the region," Sinolinding reported.

He said within the same period, he added, the regional government increased the number of PhilHealth cardholders by 80 percent, from 834,153 to 1.5 million.

“We also increased the number of PhilHealth-accredited units by 85 percent, from only 47 in 2012 to 87 in 2014,” said Dr. Sinolinding.

"Making health services accessible to all is key in improving the quality of life in the region, especially in the island provinces," Sinolinding said.

Change has come for Maguindanao fisherfolks

By Sherwin B. Manual (SBM/PR)

PARANG, Maguindanao -- For her to sell the fish-catch of her husband in the public market, Aida Gampong has to walk close to a kilometer of uphill and narrow dirt road before reaching the highway where public transport ply the route to the town’s market.

“Over an hour of long walk was a burden and it had remained that way for many years before the road was concreted,” said the 32-year-old mother of four.

“I usually carry a pail of at least five kilos of danggit (rabbitfish) and gisaw (mullet) because there was no means of transportation from our place to the highway,” she added.

The Gampong family lives at Sitio Kalutan, Barangay Making along with other 665 households in the coastal side of town where fishing and coconut farming has been the main source of livelihood.

Aside from variety of fishes, marine products of the village include seaweeds, abalone, sea cucumber, and shells.

The area also has at least 50 hectares of rice field, 65 hectares planted to corn and 300 hectares planted to coconut.

With the abundance of land and sea resources, rural life would have been easy had there been a proper road that links them to the town’s center.

Change has come

But things changed when the 2.55 kilometer Barangay Making-Kalutan Farm-to-Market road concreting was funded P25.37 million by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PDRP).

“A lot has changed when the road was completed. Payong-payong (modified tricycle as local means of transportation) now enters our village. No more long walk on the dirty path to the highway,” Gampong said.

“This is a fulfilled promise of our government,” Making barangay captain Reynaldo Quitor said.

The retired senior police inspector said he had seen the difficulty of the place even before he was a village chairman.

“Our roads here were rough and no vehicle can pass through. Farmers and fisherfolk use carabao-drawn carts and horses to bring their products to the market,” Quitor said.

“After visiting our place, Mayor (Ibrahim Ibay), Governor Esmael Mangundadatu and Armm Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman had convergence effort to propose and provide funding for the construction of the road,” Quitor said.

“Now we enjoy the multiple benefits of the road,” he added.

Easy and safe access for school children to go to their schools and fast access to social services from the government were just few of the many benefits they experienced after the road was fully concretized.

Institutionalizing change

“The PRDP fund has been a big help to the local government because we were able to save a big amount for the rehabilitation of the road which now serves the fishing village of Barangay Making,” Parang Mayor Ibrahim Ibay said.

Ibay said that through the trainings of PRDP, the capacity of local government’s personnel has tremendously improved.

They even use those skills in implementing projects from other agencies which also require the innovations applied in PRDP.

“The fishing village of Barangay Making is now livelier. Residents have even bought their vehicles. The people are happy,” Ibay added.

Change has come for Maguindanao fisherfolks

By Sherwin B. Manual (SBM/PR)

PARANG, Maguindanao -- For her to sell the fish-catch of her husband in the public market, Aida Gampong has to walk close to a kilometer of uphill and narrow dirt road before reaching the highway where public transport ply the route to the town’s market.

“Over an hour of long walk was a burden and it had remained that way for many years before the road was concreted,” said the 32-year-old mother of four.

“I usually carry a pail of at least five kilos of danggit (rabbitfish) and gisaw (mullet) because there was no means of transportation from our place to the highway,” she added.

The Gampong family lives at Sitio Kalutan, Barangay Making along with other 665 households in the coastal side of town where fishing and coconut farming has been the main source of livelihood.

Aside from variety of fishes, marine products of the village include seaweeds, abalone, sea cucumber, and shells.

The area also has at least 50 hectares of rice field, 65 hectares planted to corn and 300 hectares planted to coconut.

With the abundance of land and sea resources, rural life would have been easy had there been a proper road that links them to the town’s center.

Change has come

But things changed when the 2.55 kilometer Barangay Making-Kalutan Farm-to-Market road concreting was funded P25.37 million by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PDRP).

“A lot has changed when the road was completed. Payong-payong (modified tricycle as local means of transportation) now enters our village. No more long walk on the dirty path to the highway,” Gampong said.

“This is a fulfilled promise of our government,” Making barangay captain Reynaldo Quitor said.

The retired senior police inspector said he had seen the difficulty of the place even before he was a village chairman.

“Our roads here were rough and no vehicle can pass through. Farmers and fisherfolk use carabao-drawn carts and horses to bring their products to the market,” Quitor said.

“After visiting our place, Mayor (Ibrahim Ibay), Governor Esmael Mangundadatu and Armm Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman had convergence effort to propose and provide funding for the construction of the road,” Quitor said.

“Now we enjoy the multiple benefits of the road,” he added.

Easy and safe access for school children to go to their schools and fast access to social services from the government were just few of the many benefits they experienced after the road was fully concretized.

Institutionalizing change

“The PRDP fund has been a big help to the local government because we were able to save a big amount for the rehabilitation of the road which now serves the fishing village of Barangay Making,” Parang Mayor Ibrahim Ibay said.

Ibay said that through the trainings of PRDP, the capacity of local government’s personnel has tremendously improved.

They even use those skills in implementing projects from other agencies which also require the innovations applied in PRDP.

“The fishing village of Barangay Making is now livelier. Residents have even bought their vehicles. The people are happy,” Ibay added.

Maguindanao delicacies, Tausug textile, and other PAMANA crafts featured in gov’t expo

(Lifestyle Section, InterAksyon)

MANILA – Artisan and farm-to-market products from communities in the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program took the spotlight at recently concluded 2016 Kabisig Government Trade and Expo. The fair aims to provide needed exposure to local businesses in conflict-affected and poverty-ridden communities.

“The purpose of the Kabisig Government Expo and Trade Fair is actually to inform the public of so many government agencies that are not known,” Kabisig Mindanao Foundation Chairperson Daniel Guillen said, adding that the expo acts as a one-stop information exhibit featuring government agencies and their profiles, service facilities, programs, projects and accomplishments, as well as products and services.

The PAMANA products were on display under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). Among the featured items were Maguindanao native delicacies and water lily handicrafts; Yakan weaving and handicrafts such as table runners, coin purse and malong; traditional Tausug textile product called Pis; accessories made of Pili shells; bayong bags made from Karagumoy plant; Agsam and Abaca handicrafts; and processed pineapple delicacies.

They were produced by PAMANA beneficiaries in the areas of Sorsogon, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Camarines Norte, Butuan City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

PAMANA is the national government’s program that extends development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities, ensuring that they are not left behind. It is the people’s peace and development program that empower communities through community-driven projects that address people’s needs and, at the same time, promote peace.

With the theme “Pamahalaan at Mamamayan: Kapit-bisig sa Kaunlaran,” the government expo, which ran from October 10 to 12 in SM Manila, provided an opportunity for the government to promote public awareness and participation in national development.

Guillen added, “We encouraged everyone to participate because it is an event to inform the people of the projects of the government.”

In a message sent by the Office of the President, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte noted that “this kind of activity would inspire our leaders in government to do [their] best in restoring the faith of our countrymen in our institutions and in bringing back trust in our public servants.

“I also ask every Filipino to participate in nation-building by supporting our advocacies and initiatives. Let us all be positive as we rise to the challenge of national renewal and embody excellence, dedication, accountability, and integrity in all our pursuits,” the President continued.

OPAPP peace caravan In partnership with the municipality of Cawayan and various government agencies, the peace process agency through its PAMANA program conducted a public service caravan in order to bring closer government services to communities in the 3rd district of Masbate. Vendors sell PAMANA crafts during an OPAPP peace caravan in Cawayan, Masbate. Photo courtesy of OPAPP.

Frontline public services that were made available for free to the public included application for police clearance by the Department of Interior and Local Government; processing of birth certificates by the National Statistics Office (NSO); tax declaration payments by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); medical checkup and dental services by the Department of Health; and conditional cash transfer program by the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) among others.

The provincial government of Masbate as well as the Cawayan local government also offered other services including the processing of identification cards for senior citizens and deworming and vaccination of carabaos. Other government agencies such as the DOH and the Department of Agriculture also provided additional provisions and supplies such as medicines, rice, seedlings, fertilizers, and pregnancy kits.

The annual caravan, dubbed this year as “Peace Ta sa Komunidad,” coincided with the recently concluded celebration of the 2016 National Peace Consciousness Month.

Beneficiaries of the caravan were residents of Masbate barangays Taberna, Lague-Lague, Pulot, Cabayugan, Mactan, San Vicente, Pena Island, Guinluthangan, San Jose and Mambucay. Similar activities were also conducted in the last few weeks in Lapinig, Northern Samar; Jabonga, Agusan del Norte; Tipo-Tipo, Basilan; and the regions of South Cotabato and Lanao del Sur.

The highlight of the caravan was the ceremonial turnover of the completed nine-million pesos PAMANA Phase 1 Project to rehabilitate the provincial road connecting barangays Mactan and Malbug.

OPAPP Director for Peace Accords Completion Unit Susan Mercaida also updated Masbate residents and other peace partners present during the caravan on the six-point peace and development agenda of the Duterte administration, as well as other PAMANA implementation schedules still in the pipeline.

Other government instrumentalities present during the caravan include: the Provincial Agriculture Office; the Municipal Social and Welfare Development; the Provincial and Municipal Health Offices; the Philippine National Police; the Armed Forces of the Philippines 9th Infantry Battalion; the Municipal Assessor’s Office; Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office; the Provincial Planning and Development Office; the Provincial and Municipal Engineering Offices; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; the Department of Public Works and Highways; the Philippine Dental Association; the Office of the Municipal Administrator, and the Office of the Governor.

Goldberg: We will continue support for Mindanao

By DJ Yap (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Appearing with Vice President Leni Robredo at a forum on strengthening health programs in Muslim areas in Mindanao, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said that from 2012 to 2016, “USAID (United States Agency for International Development) has contributed more than P3 billion in Mindanao and ARMM, with P500 million specifically allocated for health activities.”

Goldberg, who has been the target of personal attacks by President Duterte, said the US government had long supported economic growth in Mindanao and “would continue to do so, in partnership with the Philippine government.”

“Currently, we have a comprehensive program that supports efforts to improve peace and stability in focused areas in Central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago,” he said.

At a colloquium organized by the Zuellig Family Foundation in cooperation with USAID at the Heritage Hotel, Robredo stressed the importance of good governance in helping the people of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) rise above their station, noting that the region was among the most impoverished in the country as a result of strife and lack of development.

Robredo and Goldberg made no mention of Mr. Duterte’s threat to break the long-standing security alliance with the US, including ending US military and technical assistance in Mindanao.

Robredo and Goldberg congratulated Zuellig on the culmination of its “health change model” in the ARMM that sought to transform how local leaders respond to the health needs of their constituents.

ARMM to award land titles to Maguindanao beneficiaries

(LTObolongon/pbchangco-PIA Cotabato with report from BPI-ARMM)

COTABATO CITY Oct 13 (PIA) ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­---- In compliance with the mandate of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman to uplift the lives of the people in ARMM and to enhance government services the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-ARMM) granted the towns of Maguindanao province land titles worth approximately P12 million.

Some 106 residents of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Salibo included in the “SPMS box” are the beneficiaries of the free land titles as well as livelihood opportunities to farmer beneficiaries seen to spur economic activities.

DENR-ARMM, Secretary Kahal Kedtag said his office aims to distribute 1,587 hectares which are currently classified as alienable and disposable public lands.

The distribution of land titles dubbed as “Handog Titulo” is geared towards combating poverty and stimulating economic progress and development in the provinces of ARMM.

The initial distribution of106 land titles covering 213 a hectare of public lands is in line with the implementation of ARMM government’s Humanitarian and Development Action Plan (HDAP).

“The free land survey and land titling are DENR-ARMM’s counterpart on ARMM government’s Humanitarian and Development Action Plan (HDAP),” Kedtag said.

The ARMM-HDAP is a project under the Hataman administration to implement various initiatives particularly on relief, rehabilitation and the reconstruction of both ‘horizontal’,infra projects including school buildings, houses, and health centers and ‘vertical’ infrastructures to include roads, bridges, and livelihood programs that envisioned to promote peace and improve the condition of calamity-affected communities.

“The beneficiaries are now proud landowners and enjoy the security of tenure,” Kedtag added.

Secretary Kedtag said this program is very important especially to the people and communities of ARMM affected by the calamities and hopefully would improve and uplift their lives through the free land titles.

“This is the mandate of our regional governor (Mujiv Hataman) to bring the government services closer to the people, so with the free land titling, we can help uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people.” Kedtag said.

As this develop, this year ARMM has allocated another P42 million worth of land for the 15 municipalities in Maguindanao outside of the SPMS box and one in Lanao del Sur.

Thousands join world handwashing day in ARMM

(PNA), FPV/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 14 (PNA) -- Thousands of pupils across the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) have participated in the campaipgn for global habit of handwashing with soap during the Global Handwashing Day observed Thursday, officials said Friday.

"The Education department is committed in ensuring that “every child in the region develops healthy habits that start with simple steps like daily handwashing with soap,” Dr. John Magno, ARMM education regional secretary, said.

The DepEd-ARMM, together with the Australian embassy’s Basic Education Assistance to Muslim Mindanao (BEAM)-ARMM program, marked the 5th Global Handwashing Day at Timanan Central Elementary School in South Upi, Maguindanao.

“Handwashing with soap is the low-cost high-impact intervention that, when practiced properly and regularly, prevents infections and saves lives,” Magno noted.

The handwashing day bears the theme, “Make handwashing a habit,” and was aimed at highlighting the importance of developing healthy habits that help prevent the occurrence of hygiene-related illnesses among children.

Official records show that nine percent of childhood deaths are caused by diarrheal diseases and almost half of these deaths could be prevented through handwashing with soap.

Since 2011, the ARMM government, specifically DepEd-ARMM, together with nongovernmental organizations, has been implementing Essential Health Care Program in 400 schools across the region. The initiative focuses on daily group handwashing with soap, daily group toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, and bi-annual de-worming.

Ester Roxas of the Australian embassy underscored the importance of schools in forming healthy habits among schoolchildren. “The education system is central to habit formation and the school provides the perfect setting for this formation,” Roxas said.

The Australian embassy official commended the DepEd-ARMM, saying it has taken the lead in the Philippines to ensure that the children of ARMM have daily activities to develop healthy habits.

“With so many children practicing handwashing together each day, ARMM is setting an example to the rest of the country,” Roxas added.

The DepEd-ARMM has developed the Three Star Approach, wherein schools, with the participation of the community, are encouraged to improve their ‘WinS’ or water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools.

The WinS includes the implementation of daily group handwashing with soap, daily group toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, and bi-annual de-worming.

Through the DepEd ARMM’s Three Star Approach’s WinS monitoring, school heads are taking the lead to ensure that all classrooms practice healthy habits.

A flag was raised at the Timanan Central Elementary School during the program to signify the school’s compliance with the Three Stars accreditation requirements. Timanan Central Elementary School, which is under the Maguindanao I Schools Division, was the first awardee of the WinS Three Stars in the ARMM.

The DepEd-ARMM is presently producing 1,000 group washing facilities to ensure that each school has the infrastructure needed to allow children to practice daily handwashing.

The region’s Education department covers nine schools divisions namely, Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. As of the latest data, there are 2,150 public elementary schools, and 304 secondary schools in the ARMM.

ARMM education execs trained to have basic knowledge on building construction

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 13 (PNA) -- The education department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is now tasking school heads to learn the basics of construction to ensure good quality classroom are built in their schools.

DepEd-ARMM is now training school heads about construction so they can have a say in coming up with quality infrastructures for children.

Dr. John Magno, DepEd-ARMM secretary, said the school heads need to learn the basic concepts of construction as well as to get acquainted with building design and specifications of good quality construction materials.

“We want our school heads to learn all these skills so they could help us monitor the construction of classrooms in their respective schools,” Dr. Magno said.

He shared that the regional government filed cases last year against contractors who performed poorly.

"This is one of our strategies to prevent contractors from short-changing the schoolchildren, the end-users of our classrooms,” he added.

Magno said his office has already trained 1,125 school heads as well as other stakeholders such as parents of schoolchildren and DepEd-ARMM division supervisors on the basics of construction with the help of the Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM), a program funded by the Australian Government.

BEAM–ARMM was launched in 2012 aimed at contributing to the alleviation of poverty and the emergence of peace in ARMM through targeted investments in basic education.

Elma Maliga, school principal of Sapakan National High School in Rajah Buayan in Maguindanao, acknowledged that she has no engineering background, thus she was not particular on the quality of buildings, amount of cement used, quality of materials, among others.

After undergoing the basic training on quality construction, she is now closely monitoring the progress of works on a daily basis.

"I am now checking every construction material delivered by the contractors to our school. I want to see how the contractors install the columns of the classroom building – from assembling the iron bars to the pouring of concrete,” she said.

Maliga added that columns, the ceiling, and the floor must be constructed properly for the safety of the schoolchildren.

Magno said DepEd-ARMM will ensure that contractors will fulfill their obligation of building quality classrooms using good quality materials.

“Gone are the days of poorly constructed classrooms in ARMM,” he said, adding that classroom construction management training for school heads is a landmark initiative introduced by the BEAM-ARMM Program and implemented by DepEd-ARMM starting in 2014.

The DepEd-ARMM chief said the training is unique to the region.

“I haven’t heard of programs such as this in other regions,” he stressed. He said the department has also maximized the use of social media as a platform to monitor the progress of classroom construction in the region.

Schools in Armm to receive funds in 2017

By Bong Garcia (Sunnex)

ALL public elementary and secondary schools in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) will be entitled to Maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) starting on 2017, an official of Department of Education (DepEd)-Armm said.

The DepEd-Armm Secretary John Magno bared the announcement citing 96 percent of the more than P12 billion earmarked for the department will be allocated for personnel services and the remaining four percent will be for the MOOE of schools.

Magno said MOOE is the allocated funds to sustain expenses for utilities such as electric and water bills, procurement of school supplies, salaries for janitors and security personnel, and other expenditures.

Magno noted that only central schools and national high schools were previously granted MOOE resulting in problems for many schools specifically on how to support their financial needs.

"This has led to irregular collection of fees by school heads from teachers and students," Magno added.

He said the MOOE could be used in the procurement of school supplies needed in classroom teaching, school training activities, utilities and communications expenses, graduation rites expenses, and minor school repairs.

The DepEd-Armm covers nine schools divisions namely: Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu, and, Tawi-Tawi.

Magno said there are 2,150 public elementary schools and 304 secondary schools in the Armm.

He said the amount of MOOE allocated for each school is based on total school enrolment, number of teachers, number of classrooms, and number of graduating students.

ARMM ready for 'La Nina', gov't offices have mitigation programs -- official

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Oct 11 (PNA) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has started preparations for yet another possible calamity causing season - the La Nina, a regional official said Tuesday.

Lawyer Noor Hafizullah "Kirby" Abdullah, regional secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-ARMM), has assured that the regional government is ready for the onset of La Niña, a weather phenomenon characterized by recessive rainfall.

Abdullah said during a press conference last Oct. 6, that his office has already convened local government units (LGUs) since May to carry out disaster preparedness measures.

To ensure the region maintains its preparedness, Abdullah urged all provincial governors as well as city and municipal mayors to take precautionary measures in their respective areas of responsibility.

The DILG has launched new protocols, or procedures, for LGUs to strengthen disaster risk reduction management dubbed "Operation Listo."

It started in 2014 with Listong Pamahalaang Lokal, which institutionalized local protocols for disaster preparedness, response and monitoring. It was strategized to reach the grassroots with its second component, the Listong Pamayanan, focusing on capacity development intervention that starts from LGUs and cascades to the community.

“We already coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM) for us to be prepared to address the ill effects of La Niña,” Abdullah told reporters.

According to Abdullah, the government has been implementing implementing a comprehensive program on mitigating the adverse effects of La Niña, that included programs on agriculture, flood control, food security, and disaster risk reduction measures.

Across the region, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-ARMM) has been conducting regular ocular inspection to determine steps to be taken to minimize the impact of floods on low-lying areas.

Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur are two ARMM provinces that are vulnerable to calamities like flash floods and landslides.

As part of preparedness programs, the OCD-ARMM has been coordinating with the regional disaster risk reduction and management council, LGUs and partner nongovernmental agencies.

As far as agriculture is concerned, Secretary Alexander Alonto of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM), said his office is preparing funds to mitigate the impact of the wet season.

“Preparations are underway to mitigate the possible impact of the rainy season to farmers in the ARMM,” Sec. Alonto said.

Agriculture Sec. Emmanuel Pinol has directed all agriculture offices across the country to prepare programs that will mitigate the impact of rainy season.

DepEd-ARMM honors Bangsamoro teachers, calls them 'unsung heroes'

(PNA), JMC/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 10 (PNA) -- "Teachers deserved not just recognition but honor and emulation."

With these words, Dr. John Magno, regional secretary of the Department of Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) led in honoring 10 outstanding Bangsamoro teachers Sunday in a delayed celebration of the 2016 World Teachers’ Day.

The 2016 World Teachers Day was on Oct. 5.

Magno said the awards served as recognition for the invaluable services of teachers in the learning and development processes of students in the region and to the Education department itself.

Citing a story of a master teacher in the region qualified for promotion as school principal, or district supervisor, but chose to remain a classroom teacher, Dr. Magno noted he has high regards to the “unsung heroes” of the nation in reference to the teachers.

"I have high regards and respect for teachers who put the interest of school children than their own interest," Magno told reporters.

According to Jaime Mendoza, Jr. of Parang National High School in Parang, Maguindanao, one of the awardees, said a teacher is satisfied and fulfilled if his or her student excel in academics and in life.

Mendoza served as a classroom teacher for many years and is now the English department head in his school.

Mendoza said he was proud to be among the 10 outstanding teachers in the region.

“I am much honored being named as an outstanding teacher of ARMM,” he said. As of 2016, there are 29,992 public elementary, junior high school and senior high school teachers across the region.

Magno said these teachers are serving in nine schools divisions namely, Maguindanao I and II, MarawiCity, Lanao Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. Each schools division nominated three teachers for the award.

For this year's search for outstanding teachers, a total of 25 teacher qualifiers underwent screenings that include panel interviews, written examinations, teaching demonstration and a review of qualifiers' pertinent documents.

The awardees for elementary school category are: Fridanovie Rabor (Datu Saililah Elementary School, Maguindanao I Division); Gideon Dable (Limpongo Elementary School, Maguindanao I Division); Susan Berganio (Nuro Central Elementary School, Maguindanao II Division); Maria Helena Barlovento (Maluso Central Elementary School, Basilan Division) and Romel Plando (Hadji Yunos Jumdain Elementary School, Tawi-Tawi Division).

Fro secondary school category, the winners were Mendoza of Parang, Maguindanao, Asnawi Rakiin (Datu Mamintal Adiong National High School, Lanao Sur I Division); Primo Sanosa, Jr. (Malabang National High School, Lanao Sur II Division); Melba Abdulla (Maluso National High School, Basilan Division) and Grace Ann Pangambayan (Sulu National High School, Sulu Division).

They received plaques and cash prizes. The regional celebration has the theme “Guro Kabalikat sa Pagbabago.”

DENR-ARMM to distribute land titles in Maguindanao as anti-poverty program

(PNA), BNB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Oct 9 (PNA) -- Farmers in Maguindanao towns disturbed by repeated hostilities in the past can now own and farm the lands with the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM), officials said Sunday.

Forester Kahal Kedtag, DENR-ARMM regional secretary, told reporters that land titles worth roughly PHP12 million will be awarded Monday to farmers in the towns of Shariff Aguak, Datu Saudi Ampatuan (Pagatin), Mamasapano and Salibo, all in Maguindanao.

The military coined the adjoining towns as "SPMS box" due to previous armed hostilities involving soldiers and Moro bandits.

"The government is developing these areas into productive communities," Kedtag said, adding that his office is gearing up to distribute 1,587 hectares currently classified as alienable and disposable public lands.

He said the massive distribution of land titles, dubbed “Handog Titulo,” aims at combating poverty and stimulating progress and development in the province.

It is a program for social upliftment in support of a vibrant economy and a more responsive government.

Kedtag said DENR-ARMM is distributing a total of 106 land titles covering 213 hectares of public lands.

“The free land survey and land titling are DENR-ARMM’s counterpart on ARMM government’s Humanitarian and Development Action Plan (HDAP),” Kedtag said.

The ARMM-HDAP is a project of Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman that will implement various government initiatives specifically relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of both ‘horizontal’, in reference to school buildings, houses, and health centers, and ‘vertical’ infrastructures, or roads and bridges, and provision of livelihood programs that will promote peace and improve the situation in calamity-affected communities specifically in 15 Maguindanao towns.

“The beneficiaries are now proud landowners and enjoy the security of tenure,” Kedtag added.

Without the help of the regional government, an individual who undergoes this process would have to spend millions of pesos.

Kedtag said for this year, the ARMM allocated another PHP42 million worth of land for 15 municipalities in Maguindanao outside the SPMS box and one in Lanao del Sur.

“This is the mandate of Gov. Hataman to bring the government services closer to the people, so with the free land titling, we can help uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people,” Kedtag said.

A ceremonial distribution is expected to be graced by local officials and the beneficiaries.

The regional secretary said he wanted to see the barren and idle lands planted with various high value crops in the next two years.

Repatriated OFWs receive assistance from OWWA-ARMM

(ORVRivera-PIA12 with report from OWWA-ARMM)

COTABATO CITY (PIA) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry recently conducted an Entrepreneurship Development Training (EDT) for repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers from Maguindanao Province.

OWWA-ARMM Regional Director Amy Crisostomo said, somel 40 beneficiaries under their Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay program were given inputs on entrepreneurship as part of OWWA’s reintegration program.

Crisostomo said, these beneficiaries were either displaced by hostilities, political conflict in the host country, victims of illegal recruitment or human trafficking.

Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay program grants a non-cash livelihood assistance of P10,000 to provide immediate relief to displaced member OFWs.

The assistance consists of techno-skills and entrepreneurship training and starter kits that will aid the beneficiary towards in their chosen business ventures.

Experts from DTI-ARMM assisted the beneficiaries in identifying their prospective business, making a simple business plan and how to properly handle and improve the plans they have laid out for their business.

DTI-Armm conducts forum for Consumer Welfare Month

(Sunnex)

THE Department of Trade and Industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DTI-Armm) is conducting a series of activities in line with the celebration of the 2016 Consumer Welfare Month (CWM).

DTI-Armm Secretary Anwar Malang said the celebration of CWM aimed to promote consumer empowerment and cooperate with various stakeholders to ensure that consumers are well educated and protected.

Malang said they conducted Consumer Forum on Malnutrition Awareness on Wednesday, in Cotabato City, which was attended by government officials, academe and business sectors of Armm.

The forum focused on the nutritional status of Armm residents and the government’s intervention and programs, consumer protection, rights and responsibilities, and financial literacy.

Mary Ann Morales, chief of consumer public awareness bureau of DTI- Soccsksargen, discussed topics about consumer protection, consumer rights and responsibilities, and Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Morales said informing and involving consumers are ways to ensure the consumer’s protection and promoting consumer welfare.

Malang said the other activities this month will included Diskwento Caravan in Basilan, Consumer Education and Information in the province of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and Provincial Monitoring of Enforcement of Fair Trade Laws.

A cooking contest and installation of Timbangan ng Bayan will also take place in key towns in the region.

The CWM is observed in October annually pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 1098.

This year’s CMW celebration in anchored on the theme “Consumer Protection: A Shared Responsibility.”

ARMM intensifies anti-poverty drive to create more programs

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 6 (PNA) -- Ranking officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are directed to intensify the region's anti-poverty drive aimed at uplifting the lives of poor families who are mostly living in impoverished communities.

ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia has convened a top-level meeting of heads of agencies directly involved in improving the lives of millions of ARMM inhabitants.

“The best way to combat poverty in the region is to properly deliver the programs and projects because these will have significant effects on their daily lives,” Alamia said.

She told department heads of line agencies and locally created regional offices that now is the time to face the challenge to improve peoples lives.

“It will take time to solve the poverty challenge, but we in the regional government must continue to lead the fight,” Alamia said.

The special meeting participants had discussed the regional programs and projects aimed at alleviating poverty, especially in conflict affected communities.

Executive Director Baintan Ampatuan of the region’s planning and development office presented during the event ARMM’s medium-term regional development plan (MTRDP) covering the years 2017 to 2022.

Ampatuan explained that MTRDP is a six-year undertaking aligned with the national government’s Philippine Development Plan.

The strategic cluster convergence plan, a three-year initiative of the ARMM cabinet cluster to carry out the administration’s priorities for 2016-2019, was also discussed.

Alamia said the region has various programs and projects on poverty alleviation such as the Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment, Humanitarian and Development Action Plan, and Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance, and Synergy.

With the challenge to end poverty, Alamia said the regional government will improve its services in education, health, welfare, barangay, agri-fishery, infrastructure and non-infrastructure.

Two strategies were also discussed during the poverty reduction meeting. These include immediate strategy dubbed 'Labanan ang Kahirapan sa ARMM,' or the ‘Apat Dapat Program’, that focused on key interventions concerning the four basic needs of every family, namely food, lighting, water and sanitation, and shelter.

Alamia said the region’s anti-poverty long-term strategy is the balancing of the economy that includes enhancing the productivity of the farming sector in order to increase agricultural production in rural areas.

“The local and regional governments will jointly work to provide an environment conducive to industrial development and in strengthening the services sector,” Alamia said.

DTI-ARMM holds 1st ARMM franchising expo

(BPI/APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 5 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DTI-ARMM) conducted the 1st franchising expo on October 4, at the region’s seat in Cotabato City.

DTI-ARMM Secretary Atty. Anwar Malang said the expo, attended by officials and employees of the different line agencies, academe, and local businessmen, was aimed to provide the participants knowledge on entrepreneurship and business development.

The activity featured four speakers who discussed the various aspects of business and franchising opportunities in the region. It also featured talks from experts on trends in the field of franchising.

Atty. Malang sees an upward growth of the region’s economy noting that the franchising expo provides an opportunity for business seekers and those who are planning to expand an existing business to gain valuable knowledge, insight, and guidance.

Norma Arcega-Oro, DTI-ARMM senior trade-industry development specialist, discussed ways and techniques on how to start a business. A team from Metrobank, meanwhile, shared inputs on how to fund a business venture and manage capital.

Jed Arboleda, Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) consultant, said the potential for the growth of franchising in the ARMM is high. “Franchising is one of the best ways to increase the number of stores because you use other people’s money,” he said.

He also discussed ways on how to invest in the right franchise educating the participants in making wise decisions before investing.

The general public can join a business matching event today at the ORG Compound in Cotabato City. The activity is a joint effort of the DTI-ARMM and PFA.

DENR - ARMM donate computer sets, trash bins to MSU - Maguindanao

(PNA), FPV/NYP

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao, Oct. 4 (PNA) -- In a peculiar move to instill environmental concerns to the minds of the youth, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) distributed trash bins and donated computer sets to a state-run university here.

The DENR-ARMM visit came amid the Mindanao State University -Maguindanao’s opening ceremonies for its 43rd founding anniversary on Monday.

DENR-ARMM Secretary Kahal Kedtag inspired university students as he initially handed over two sets of desktop computers with printers to the College of Forestry to help expand the capacity of the department on research and extension.

Eight more sets of computers would also be given to other colleges of the university, Kedtag said.

He also led the turnover of 10 big trash bins to the university in support to their clean and green environment advocacy in the campus.

Kedtag, a proud alumnus of the university, has reminded students in a speech about the value of education as a great social equalizer in the field of global competitiveness.

"Up to this day, never have I been proud to know that most of us, alumni of this institution, have assumed executive positions in the government as well as in the corporate world," Kedtag said.

While here, Kedtag also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the MSU administration led by Chancellor Bai Soraya Sinsuat and 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion for their campus greening project in support to the National Greening Program of the government.

Lamitan mayor bags CSC Pagasa citation

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - A mayor trying since 2013 to set free her 45 constituent-barangays from the bondage of armed conflicts and underdevelopment received a “Regional Pagasa Award” from the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Lamitan City Mayor Rosita Furigay was the only local executive in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to receive such an award during the commission’s 116th anniversary celebration last Wednesday.

The anniversary program in ARMM of the CSC’s 116th founding anniversary was held at the 300-seater Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City.

Furigay is now in her second term as mayor of Lamitan City, capital of Basilan, an island province in the autonomous region.

No one from among local politicians dared to contest her bid for a second term during the May 9, 2016 elections owing to her popularity among Lamitan City’s more than 40,000 registered voters, whose barangays she helped rise from poverty and devastations wrought by armed conflicts.

Sources from CSC on Saturday told The STAR Furigay qualified for the commission’s Pagasa award this year owing to her feats in governance and for promoting peace and development among Muslim and Christian communities in Lamitan City. Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

There were dramatic improvements in the economy of Lamitan City in the past three years, ushered in by the socio-economic, fiscal and administrative cooperation between its local government unit and the office of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

Hataman's costly infrastructure projects in Lamitan City are being managed jointly by ARMM Public Works Secretary Don Loong and engineer Soler Undug, chief of the Basilan District Engineering Office.

Undug had also received the "Outstanding Public Service Exemplar Award" from the CSC-ARMM for having accomplished major infrastructure projects of the Hataman administration in different towns in Basilan in months past.

The Hataman administration is presently constructing a government operations complex in Barangay Sta. Clara in Lamitan City, where all provincial offices of line agencies in ARMM are to relocate.

Furigay said the special citation she received from the CSC emboldened her more to work harder for her Muslim and Christian constituents.

ARMM mulls activation of local school boards

(ARMM Bureau of Public Information)

COTABATO CITY – Officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said they are determined to harness local school boards (LSBs) in improving the state of education in the ARMM.

Alfhadar Pajiji, Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Regional Secretary for Special Projects, said they recognize the essential role of LSBs in advancing the welfare of public schools in the ARMM. The region is composed of the provinces of Sulu, Maguindanao, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Lanao del Sur, as well as the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

“While the regional government is working at addressing issues in the education sector, the functions of the LSB cannot be underestimated and the need to make these boards functional is a challenge to the department,” he said.

Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, mandates local government officials to work on education sector concerns. Under the law, school boards should be composed of local chief executives, school superintendents and district supervisors, councilors, board members, treasurers, Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen, presidents of parent-teacher associations, and non-academic personnel of schools.

The LSB determines the annual supplementary budget needs for the operation and maintenance of public schools within the province, city or municipality, and serves as an advisory committee to the local legislative body on educational matters such as the necessity for, and the use of local appropriations for educational purposes.

“Having a strong, efficient and working local school board is the key to meeting effective delivery of education services, such as identification of priority schools to be rehabilitated, and facilities to be constructed,” Pajiji said.

The regional DepEd official cited the case of Naga City, which saw a dramatic improvement in its basic education after its then mayor, the late secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Jesse Robredo, activated the city school board.

Robredo was among the local chief executives who advocated for the activation of the LSBs to improve education in the country. He noted that “local education governance reforms can be done” and that “empowered and functional local school boards have both the mandate and legal personality to serve as focal point for these reforms.”

Pajiji said regional DepEd is “encouraging local government units throughout the ARMM to help make local school boards more functional. The pressing problems we have on education such as the repair of dilapidated classrooms can be addressed more efficiently if we have active school boards.” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said among the current challenges the region faces is the poor state of education and the regional government is taking various steps to reform and improve this sector.

The ARMM government has allotted a total of P2.3 billion for basic education facilities in the region from 2013 to 2015. Through its Department of Public Works and Highways, it has built a total of 332 school buildings across the region in 2013 and 2014. The ongoing construction of 819 additional classrooms is set to be finished by next year.

The region has 2,155 elementary schools and 304 secondary schools that are grouped into nine schools divisions, namely Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Maguindanao farmers plant rice in dry area of marshland, increase regional output

By Edwin O. Fernandez [(PNA), RMA/NYP/EOF]

COTABATO CITY, Oct. 1 (PNA) -- Muslim farmers in Maguindanao province have expanded palay planting activities to up to 60,000 hectares in the Liguasan marshland thereby increasing production level by as much as 34 percent in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu said farmers grabbed the opportunity to plant palay in minimally inundated portion of the Liguasan marshland, increasing their productivity and improved livelihood.

According to Eugene Strong, agriculture secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM), said Lanao del Sur rice production also increased this year.

Strong said a total of 88 percent rice production from Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur was enough to feed the region's 3 million population.

With about 60,000 hectares of marshland converted into rice fields, Mangudadatu said the rice production of Maguindanao is expected to increase by 34 percent, including rice production in upland areas of the towns of Datu Salibo, Datu Piang, Mamasapano, Datu Hofer, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Datu Piang.

Maguindanao farmers were lured into "invading" the dried up portion of the marshland to plant palay with the assistance from DAF that included post harvest facilities.

Engr. Don Loong, regional secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-ARMM), said Maguindanao towns, which have long been suffering from lack of road network to transport goods, were now enjoying newly built roads connecting towns situated in the marshland.

Kadiguia Abdulla of DAF-ARMM said Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provided 88 percent of the rice requirements of ARMM while the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi produced only 12 percent of the total regional requirement owing to the fact that most agriculture workers in three-separate provinces were principally into aqua-marine production.

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